Optimization and failure detection of a wireless base station network

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to optimization and failure detection of a wireless base station network. Based on Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) measurements, a cloud server determines an optimal transmission sequence. For each base station of the optimal transmission sequence, a predecessor and a successor are designated. Each base station of the sequence generates a packet. The most distant base station (relative to the cloud server) transmits its packet to its successor. Each base station of the sequence (in turn) receives the packet from its predecessor, combines the received packet with its own generated packet, transmits the combined packet to its successor, and so on until the combined packet is relayed to a super base station at the end of the sequence. The super base station transmits the packet to the cloud server. Based on the packet size, the cloud server can ascertain which base station (if any) failed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to determining the optimaltransmission sequence (i.e., a subnetwork of base stations) in a largernetwork of base stations and detection of the failure of a base stationin that sequence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For energy-constrained networks of battery-powered devices, theenergy-efficiency of multi-hop routing is a critical design objective.Though the existing algorithms for a routing protocol are adequate fornetworks that operate under tight-but-typical, low-power energyconstraints, these algorithms are inadequate for applications where thenodes must communicate with a cloud server indirectly by relaying datathrough a transmission chain with a systemic energy budget that isunusually low.

For example, in typical methods known in the art, each node of thenetwork stores the complete routing information of the entire network.While this design makes the determination of the transmission route veryfast, every node of the entire network must update its routing table(and therefore consume energy) whenever the network topology changes.Other methods either require a single node to flood the entire networkwith route request messages or require several nodes to broadcastpackets just to determine the transmission route. Thus, a particularneed exists specifically for a multi-hop routing scheme with premiumenergy-efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the optimization and failuredetection of a wireless base station network. Each base station (of aplurality of base stations) may perform a received signal strengthindication (RSSI). The cloud server may generate a matrix of basestations and super base stations that were detected by the RSSI. Wheninitializing the network, each base station may transmit a serial numberto the cloud server.

The cloud server may determine (based on the RSSIs) an optimaltransmission sequence of base stations from a most distant base stationto a super base station. The network topology of the optimaltransmission sequence may be a linear daisy chain. Since the cloudserver determines the optimal transmission sequence, base stationsconserve the power that would otherwise be needed to transmit orbroadcast packets to discover the route. The super base station may waitfor the command of the cloud server to designate a predecessor and asuccessor for each base station of the optimal transmission sequence.Contrary to methods known in the art, each base station saves energy bybeing oblivious of the total optimal transmission sequence (and even thetotal plurality of base stations) and only aware of the base stationthat precedes it and follows it in the optimal transmission sequence.

Each base station of the optimal transmission sequence may generate apacket. The most distant base station of the optimal transmissionsequence may transmit its packet to the next base station. A basestation may transmit the packet without identifying the source in orderto conserve power. The next base station may receive the packet, maycombine the received packet with its own packet, and may transmit theaggregate packet to the next base station, and so on until the packetmay be received by the super base station. If a certain amount of timehas lapsed without receiving the aggregate packet, a base station maycarry on and transmit the packet that it generated without combining itwith the aggregate packet. Once a packet has been received by thetransmitting base station's successor, the packet may be cleared fromthe transmitting base station's memory.

The super base station may transmit the aggregate packet to the cloudserver. The cloud server may determine how many base stationssuccessfully transmitted based on the size of the aggregate packet. Thecloud server may determine which base station in the optimaltransmission sequence failed using Sequential Interruption Logic.

As used herein, the term “Sequential Interruption Logic” refers to thedetermination of which base station failed in a linear daisy chain ifeach base station may only transmit in sequential order. SequentialInterruption Logic reasons that a failed base station will prevent thetransmission of the aggregated packets of all the base stations thatprecede it in the optimal transmission sequence. Consequently, if theaggregate packet is missing multiple contributions from respective basestations, then the failed base station must be the sequentially latestbase station of the base stations from which contributions are missing.

Thus, to detect and resolve failure in a network where the base stationsdo not communicate directly with the cloud server, the failure of a basestation is inferred from the size of the aggregate packet that'sultimately received by the cloud server. The cloud server calculates howmany contributions are missing from the aggregate packet and determineswhich base station must have failed (since the base stations musttransmit in sequence). This inference obviates the need to communicatewith the base stations to ascertain which base station 601 failed (asystem design that further minimizes energy consumption).

One of the many inventive technical features of the present invention isthe generation of an optimal transmission path in the form of a lineardaisy chain. Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory ormechanism, it is believed that the technical feature of the presentinvention advantageously provides for a decrease in overall energyconsumption in a wireless base station network due to the removal of theneed for base stations to store information on the entire network andthe fact that a base station only needs to communicate with twostations: a predecessor and a successor. None of the presently knownprior references or work has the unique inventive technical feature ofthe present invention.

Furthermore, the generation of an optimal transmission path in the formof a linear daisy chain is counterintuitive. The reason that it iscounterintuitive is because one skilled in the art would normally seek astraight line as the most efficient route. That is, a series of basestations installed in a straight line would communicate with the superbase station mounted in the same manner. One skilled in the art wouldexpect the straight-line topology to carry transmissions moreefficiently and that the construction of the optimal transmission pathin the cloud server would be more time and energy efficient. Thus, thelinear daisy chain transmission path is counterintuitive. Surprisingly,the straight-line transmission path encounters issues with datatransmission reliability, leading to excessive power consumption overrepeated attempts at data transmission and failure to transmit data insuch a way as to avoid retries. The linear-daisy chain transmission pathrectifies this issue by finding the path with the most efficiency andreliability. Additionally, the straight-line transmission path ishindered by areas where radio signals cannot penetrate well or evenpenetrate at all, while the linear daisy chain transmission path allowsfor data transmission around these areas without requiring humanintervention as the former method would.

Another inventive technical feature of the present invention is thestorage of one packet in memory of a base station, the deletion of thepacket from the memory only when the packet has been received by asuccessive base station, and the recursive transmission of packets untilthe memory of every base station is empty. Without wishing to limit theinvention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the technicalfeature of the present invention advantageously provides for a decreasein the energy consumption of each individual base station since only onepacket needs to be held in the base station memory at a time, and it isdeleted when it is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the recursivetransmission of packets until the memory of every base station is emptyis a time and energy efficient method of repeating transmissions untilthe packet is sent to the cloud server correctly since it does notrequire communication between a base station and anyone other than itspredecessor and successor. None of the presently known prior referencesor work has the unique inventive technical feature of the presentinvention.

Furthermore, the storage of one packet in memory of a base station, thedeletion of the packet from the memory only when the packet has beenreceived by a successive base station, and the recursive transmission ofpackets until the memory of each base station is empty are allcounterintuitive. The reason that it is counterintuitive is because oneskilled in the art would expect that the deletion of a packet aftertransmission in a system would consume more energy than simply storingpackets for a longer period of time in repeated transmission sequencessince the same packet would have to be generated repeatedly until allbase stations were functional. Thus, it would be counterintuitive tostore only one packet, delete it after transmission, and recursivelytransmit until the memory of every base station is cleared.Surprisingly, storing only one packet and deleting it from memory ismore energy efficient than storing data for a longer period of time,even in repeated transmission sequences.

Another inventive technical feature of the use of SequentialInterruption Logic in a cloud server for failure detection. Withoutwishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, it isbelieved that the technical feature of the present inventionadvantageously provides for a decrease in overall energy consumptionsince the cloud server does not need to communicate with any basestations in order to determine which base station was unresponsive. Noneof the presently known prior references or work has the unique inventivetechnical feature of the present invention.

Furthermore, the use of Sequential Interruption Logic in a cloud serverfor failure detection is counterintuitive. The reason that it iscounterintuitive is because one skilled in the art would expect that theinternal logic required in the cloud server for this method would reducetime efficiency and potentially accuracy to the point of outweighing theenergy savings gained by removing communication between the cloud serverand base stations. Thus, the use of Sequential Interruption Logic forfailure detection is counterintuitive. Surprisingly, SequentialInterruption Logic is comparable in time efficiency and accuracy toprior methods of failure detection while decreasing energy consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed descriptionpresented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the method of claim 1 for optimization andfailure detection of an exemplary wireless base station network, such as(by way of non-limiting example) a Bluetooth Low Energy indoorlocalization system. The wireless base station network may comprise acloud server, at least one super base station and a plurality of basestations associated with the respective super base station. Each superbase station may comprise, for example, an ultra-wideband antenna forset-up & maintenance and a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN, e.g.,LoRa) antenna for data. Each base station may comprise, for example, anultra-wideband antenna for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN (e.g.,LoRa) antenna for data. Each base station may comprise memory fortemporary storage of packets.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for optimization and failuredetection of a wireless base station network in which supportive stepshave been added to elaborate upon peripheral features of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method of claim 7 for failure detection ofan optimal transmission sequence of base stations. Particular emphasisis placed upon the failure detection to underscore the energy-efficiencyof the cloud server inferring the failure of a base station throughSequential Interruption Logic rather than by querying the base station(which would require the base station to waste power by transmitting aresponse).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an exemplary response protocol for ahypothetical failure of a base station.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a tri-bandantenna. The antenna may be, for example, a monopole or multipole or anantenna array of a plurality of monopoles and/or multipoles. The antennamay be configured with a wide bandwidth. The signal received by theantenna may be processed by, for example, a Bluetooth filter, an LPWAN(e.g., LoRa) filter, and an ultra-wideband filter such that the filterseffectively configure a single, wideband antenna to function as atri-band antenna.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the system of claim 11 for optimization andfailure detection of a network of base stations. The components of acloud server are shown, comprising a processor, an antenna, arandomly-accessed memory (RAM) component, and a memory component. Thecomponents of a base station are shown, comprising a processor, anantenna, a RAM component, and a memory component. The components of theantenna in the base station are shown, comprising an ultra-widebandantenna and an LPWAN antenna. The components of a super base station areshown, comprising a processor, an antenna, a RAM component, and a memorycomponent. The components of the antenna in the super base station areshown, comprising an ultra-wideband antenna and an LPWAN antenna.Multiple base station nodes are shown to express the plurality of basestations in an optimal transmission sequence.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the system of claim 17 for failure detection of awireless base station in an optimal transmission sequence. Thecomponents of a cloud server are shown, comprising a processor, anantenna, a RAM component, and a memory component. The component of abase station are shown, comprising a processor, an antenna, a RAMcomponent, and a memory component. The components of the antenna of thebase station are shown, comprising an ultra-wideband antenna and anLPWAN antenna. The components of a super base station are shown,comprising an antenna. The components of the antenna in the super basestation are shown, comprising an ultra-wideband antenna and an LPWANantenna. Multiple base station nodes are shown to express the pluralityof base stations in an optimal transmission sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

When used herein, terms describing order and position (such as, but notlimited to, “predecessor,” “successor,” “next”, “prior” and “previous”)are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein. Itwill be appreciated that the terms “predecessor” and “successor” areused to mean the preceding (or previous) base station 601 and thesucceeding (or next) base station 601, respectively. However, when theseterms are used herein to identify a base station 601, these termsidentify a base station 601 that is relative to the most recentiteration of a recursive loop. Thus, each iteration of the recursioncauses a reassessment or relabeling of the described elements. Forexample, if one iteration of the loop defines a “base station 601” and“its successor,” then in the next iteration of the loop, the basestation 601 is actually the successor from the previous iteration andthe meaning of “its successor” (in the second iteration) actually refersto the successor of the successor of the base station 601 from the firstiteration. Thus, when identifying a base station 601, these relativeadjectives relate back through each of the previous loop iterations allthe way to the very first iteration. Consequently, the claim elementidentified by the terms “base station 601,” “predecessor,” and“successor” depends on the iteration of the loop. Restated, the terms“predecessor” and “successor” only relatively label the claim elements,and the claim element objectively identified by the label must beascertained through compound application of the recursion.

The figures presented in this patent application (including the angles,proportions of dimensions, etc.) are representative only and the claimsare not limited by the dimensions of the figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention features a method 100 foroptimization and failure detection of a wireless base station 601network. In some embodiments, the method comprises each base station 601of a plurality of base stations measuring 101 a received signal strengthindicator (RSSI). If the network is being initialized (such as, forexample, upon deployment for the first time), each base station 601 ofthe plurality of base stations may transmit a serial number to the cloudserver 603. Based on the RSSIs, the cloud server 603 may determine 102an optimal transmission sequence of base stations from a most distantbase station 601 to a super base station 602 in the form of a lineardaisy chain. The super base station 602 may designate 103 a predecessorand a successor for each base station 601 in the optimal transmissionsequence.

In some embodiments, each base station 601 of the optimal transmissionsequence may generate 104 a packet. The most distant base station 601 ofthe optimal transmission sequence may transmit 105 its generated packetto its successor, the successor may transmit 106 to its respectivesuccessor a combined packet comprising its own generated packet and thepacket received from its predecessor, and so on, until the super basestation 602 receives 107 the combined packet. In other embodiments, oncea time to receive a packet from its predecessor has lapsed, a basestation 601 may transmit 106 its generated packet to its successor.Following this, the successor may transmit 106 to its respectivesuccessor a combined packet comprising its own generated packet and thepacket received from its predecessor, and so on, until the super basestation 602 receives 107 the combined packet. In some embodiments, abase station 601 may transmit the packet without identifying thetransmission source in order to conserve power.

In some embodiments, the cloud server 603 may receive 108 the combinedpacket transmitted by the super base station 602. The cloud server 603may identify 109 any nonfunctional super base station 602 and/or anynonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence usingSequential Interruption Logic based on a payload size of the packet. Insome embodiments, the cloud server 603 may optimize the networkrepeatedly 110 until all packets have been received.

In some embodiments, the antenna 721 of the super base station 602 maycomprise an ultra-wideband antenna 722 for set-up & maintenance and anlow-power wide-area network (LPWAN) antenna 723 for data. In someembodiments, the antenna 711 of the base station 601 may comprise anultra-wideband antenna 712 for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna713 for data.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the present invention features a method 200 foroptimization and failure detection of a wireless base station 601network. In some embodiments, the wireless base station 601 network maycomprise a cloud server 603, a plurality of super base stations, and aplurality of base stations. Each super base station 602 of the pluralityof super base stations may comprise a first processor 1007 capable ofexecuting computer-executable instructions, a first randomly accessedmemory (RAM) device 1008, a first memory device 1009, and a firstantenna 721. Each base station 601 of the plurality of base stations maycomprise a second processor 1004 capable of executingcomputer-executable instructions, a second RAM device 1005, a secondmemory device 1006, and a second antenna 711. In some embodiments, themethod may comprise each base station 601 of the plurality of basestations performing 201 an RSSI of each base station 601 of theplurality of base stations. The cloud server 603 may generate 202 amatrix comprising base stations and super base stations detected by theRSSI. In some embodiments, if this optimization is also aninitialization, each base station 601 of the plurality of base stationsmay transmit 203 a serial number to the cloud server 603.

In some embodiments, the cloud server 603 may determine 204 an optimaltransmission sequence based on RSSI data of base stations to therespective super base station 602 of the plurality of super basestations in the form of a linear daisy chain. The cloud server 603 maycommand 205 the respective super base station 602 to designate apredecessor in the optimal transmission sequence and a successor in theoptimal transmission sequence for each base station 601 in the optimaltransmission sequence. The super base station 602 may designate 206 thepredecessor in the optimal transmission sequence and the successor inthe optimal transmission sequence for each base station 601 in theoptimal transmission sequence. The predecessor in the optimaltransmission sequence of a first base station 601 in the optimaltransmission sequence may be null, and the successor in the optimaltransmission sequence of a last base station 601 in the optimaltransmission sequence may be the super base station 602.

In some embodiments, the first base station 601 of the optimaltransmission sequence may generate 207 a packet at a scheduled time. Ifthe first base station 601 of the optimal transmission sequencegenerated the packet, the first base station 601 of the optimaltransmission sequence may store 208 the packet in memory. When thepacket from the predecessor in the optimal transmission sequence hasbeen received or a time to receive the packet from the predecessor inthe optimal transmission sequence has lapsed, the base station 601 maytransmit 209 the stored packet to the successor in the optimaltransmission sequence. In some embodiments, the base may transmit apacket without identifying the transmission source of the packet inorder to conserve power. The successor in the optimal transmissionsequence may receive 210 the transmitted packet and the base station 601may clear 211 the transmitted packet from memory when the transmittedpacket is received by the successor in the optimal transmissionsequence. The successor in the optimal transmission sequence maygenerate 212 the packet. In some embodiments, the successor in theoptimal transmission sequence may combine 213 the received packet andthe generated packet. The successor in the optimal transmission sequencemay store 214 the combined packet in memory. In turn, each base station601 of the optimal transmission sequence may receive a packet from itspredecessor, combine the packet with its own packet, and transmit thecombined packet to its successor until 215 the super base station 602stores the combined packet in memory.

In some embodiments, the super base station 602 may transmit 216 thestored packet to the cloud server 603. The cloud server 603 may receive217 the packet. The cloud server 603 may determine 218 a number offunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence using apayload size of the packet. The cloud server 603 may identify 219 zeroor one nonfunctional super base station 602 and zero or morenonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence usingSequential Interruption Logic based on the number of functional basestations in the optimal transmission sequence. If the super base station602 or one or more base stations in the optimal transmission sequencefailed, the cloud server 603 may transmit 220 a maintenance request toTech Support and the network of base stations may be optimizedrepeatedly 221 until the memory of each base station 601 of theplurality of base stations and the memory of the super base station 602are empty of packets.

In some embodiments, the antenna 721 of the super base station 602 maycomprise an ultra-wideband antenna 722 for set-up & maintenance and anLPWAN antenna 723 for data. In some embodiments, the antenna 711 of thebase station 601 may comprise an ultra-wideband antenna 712 for set-up &maintenance and an LPWAN antenna 713 for data.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the present invention features a method 300 forfailure detection of a wireless base station 601 in an optimaltransmission sequence. In some embodiments, a network topography of theoptimal transmission sequence may be a linear daisy chain. A successorof a last base station 601 in the optimal transmission sequence may be acloud server 603. The method may comprise each base station 601 of theoptimal transmission sequence generating 301 a packet. The most distantbase station 601 of the optimal transmission sequence may transmit 302the packet to its successor in the optimal transmission sequence, andthe successor may combine 303 the received packet with its own generatedpacket. The successor may transmit 304 the combined packet to its ownsuccessor in the optimal transmission sequence if the packet from apredecessor in the optimal transmission sequence has been received orwhen a time to receive the packet from the predecessor has lapsed. Inturn, a successor in the optimal transmission sequence may receive thecombined packet from its predecessor, combine the received packet withits own generated packet, and transmit the combined packet to its ownsuccessor until the cloud server 603 receives the combined packet.

In some embodiments, the cloud server 603 may determine 306 a number offunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence using apayload size of the combined packet. The cloud server 603 may identify307 zero or more nonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmissionsequence using Sequential Interruption Logic based on the number offunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence.

In some embodiments, the antenna 721 of the super base station 602 maycomprise an ultra-wideband antenna 722 for set-up & maintenance and anLPWAN antenna 723 for data. In some embodiments, the antenna 711 of thebase station 601 may comprise an ultra-wideband antenna 712 for set-up &maintenance and an LPWAN antenna 713 for data.

A cloud server 603 may comprise at least one of network computingenvironments known in the art with computer system configurationsfurther comprising personal computers, desktop computers, laptopcomputers, rack computers, mainframes and the like. The networkcomputing environment may comprise at least a process for executinginstructions, RAM, memory upon which is stored instructions executableby the processor. The cloud server 603 may also be implemented indistributed system environments where operations are delegated to and/orshared between local and remote computer systems across a network. In adistributed system environment, program modules may be located in bothlocal and remote memory storage devices.

A base station 601 may be (by way of non-limiting example) any wirelessdevice, comprising a processor 1004 for executing instructions, RAM1005, memory 1006 upon which is stored instructions executable by theprocessor, and an antenna 711. A super base station 602 may be (by wayof non-limiting example) any wireless device, comprising a processor1007 for executing instructions, RAM 1008, memory 1009 upon which isstored instructions executable by the processor, and an antenna 721.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wireless device mayinclude personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, messageprocessors, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, pagers,routers, access points, transceivers, and the like.

An antenna 701 may be a wideband antenna configured with a bandwidthgreater than 0 GHz and less than or equal to 7 GHz. The wideband antenna701 may be configured with filters to distinguish multiple bands ofradiofrequencies. The bands of radiofrequencies may include non-limitingexamples such as ultra-wideband (UWB) 702, an LPWAN (such as LoRa) 703,and Bluetooth 704. Ultra-wideband 702 may comprise frequencies exceedingthe lesser of 500 MHz or 20% of the arithmetic center frequency. TheLPWAN 703 may comprise 433 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz frequencies.Bluetooth 704 may comprise frequencies ranging from 2.400 GHz-2.4835 GHz(including guard bands).

Instructions that cause at least one processing circuit to perform oneor more operations are “computer-executable.” Within the scope of thepresent invention, “computer-readable memory,” “computer-readablestorage media,” and the like comprises two distinctly different kinds ofcomputer-readable media: physical storage media that storescomputer-executable instructions and transmission media that carriescomputer-executable instructions. Physical storage media includes RAMand other volatile types of memory; ROM, EEPROM and other non-volatiletypes of memory; CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW and other optical diskstorage; magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices; andany other tangible medium that can store computer-executableinstructions that can be accessed and processed by at least oneprocessing circuit. Transmission media can include signals carryingcomputer-executable instructions over a network to be received by ageneral-purpose or special-purpose computer. Thus, it is emphasized that(by disclosure or recitation of the exemplary term “non-transitory”)embodiments of the present invention expressly exclude signals carryingcomputer-executable instructions.

However, it should be understood that once a signal carryingcomputer-executable instructions is received by a computer, the type ofcomputer-readable storage media transforms automatically fromtransmission media to physical storage media. This transformation mayeven occur early on in intermediate memory such as (by way of exampleand not limitation) a buffer in the RAM of a network interface card,regardless of whether the buffer's content is later transferred to lessvolatile RAM in the computer. Thus, devices that merely repeat a signalare contemplated by the embodiments of the present invention, eventhough the media that carry the signal between such devices and thesignal itself are expressly not included within the claim scope. Thus,it should be understood that “non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia” may be used herein instead of simply “physical storage media” or“physical computer-readable storage media” in order to underscore thateven transmission media necessarily involves eventual transformationinto physical storage media and to therefore capture all embodimentswhere the computer-readable instructions are stored in physical storagemedia—even if only temporarily before transforming back intotransmission media.

In some embodiments, when executed by the processor of the cloud server603, the instructions may cause the processor to perform operations. Theoperations may comprise determining based on the RSSIs an optimaltransmission sequence of base stations from a most distant base station601 to a super base station 602, wherein a network topology of theoptimal transmission sequence is a linear daisy chain; receiving thecombined packet transmitted by the super base station 602; identifyingany nonfunctional super base station 602 and any nonfunctional basestations 601 in the optimal transmission sequence using SequentialInterruption Logic based on a payload size of the packet; and receivinga packet.

In other embodiments, when executed by the processor of the cloud server603, the instructions may cause the processor to perform operations. Theoperations may comprise receiving the combined packet; determining anumber of functional base stations in the optimal transmission sequenceusing a payload size of the combined packet; and identifying zero ormore nonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequenceusing Sequential Interruption Logic based on the number of functionalbase stations in the optimal transmission sequence.

In some embodiments, when executed by the processor of a base station601, the instructions may cause the processor to perform operations. Theoperations may comprise measuring an RSSI; generating a packet;transmitting its generated packet to its successor; and transmitting, ifa packet from its predecessor has been received or when a time toreceive the packet from its predecessor has lapsed, a combined packetcomprising its own generated packet and the packet received from itspredecessor.

In other embodiments, when executed by the processor of a base station601, the instructions may cause the processor to perform operations. Theoperations may comprise generating a packet; transmitting the packet toits successor in the optimal transmission sequence; combining thereceived packet with its own generated packet; and transmitting thecombined packet to its own successor in the optimal transmissionsequence if the packet from a predecessor in the optimal transmissionsequence has been received or when a time to receive the packet from thepredecessor has lapsed.

In some embodiments, when executed by the processor of a super basestation 601, the instructions may cause the processor to performoperations. The operations may comprise designating a predecessor and asuccessor for each base station 601 in the optimal transmissionsequence; receiving the combined packet; and transmitting the combinedpacket to the cloud server 603.

Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention features a system foroptimization and failure detection of a network of base stations. Insome embodiments, the system may comprise a cloud server 603 that has afirst processor 1001 capable of executing computer-executableinstructions, a first antenna 701, a first RAM component 1002, and afirst memory component 1003. The memory may comprise instructions fordetermining 102 based on the RSSIs an optimal transmission sequence ofbase stations from a most distant base station 601 to a super basestation 602. A network topology of the optimal transmission sequence maybe a linear daisy chain. Other instructions include receiving 108 thecombined packet transmitted by the super base station 602, identifying109 any nonfunctional super base station 602 and any nonfunctional basestations in the optimal transmission sequence using SequentialInterruption Logic based on a payload size of the packet, and receiving110 a packet.

In some embodiments, the system also may comprise a plurality of basestations. Each base station 601 of the plurality of base stations mayhave a second processor 1004 capable of executing computer-executableinstructions, a second antenna 711, a second RAM component 1005, and asecond memory component 1006. The memory may comprise instructions formeasuring 101 an RSSI, generating 104 a packet, transmitting 105 itsgenerated packet to its successor, and transmitting 106, if a packetfrom its predecessor has been received or when a time to receive thepacket from its predecessor has lapsed, a combined packet comprising itsown generated packet and the packet received from its predecessor. Itmay also comprise instructions to repeat 107 packet combination andtransmission to the successor recursively until the super base station602 receives the combined packet. Each base station 601 in the pluralityof base stations may transmit a serial number to the cloud server 603only when initializing.

In some embodiments, the system may also comprise a plurality of superbase stations. Each super base station 602 of the plurality of superbase stations may comprise a third processor 1007 capable of executingcomputer-executable instructions, a third antenna 721, a third RAMcomponent 1008, and a third memory component 1009. The memory maycomprise instructions for designating 103 a predecessor and a successorfor each base station 601 in the optimal transmission sequence,receiving 107 the combined packet, and transmitting 108 the combinedpacket to the cloud server (603).

In some embodiments, a network topography of the optimal transmissionsequence generated by the cloud server 603 may be a linear daisy chainand a transmission source of the packet may be unidentified in order toconserve power.

In some embodiments, the antenna 721 of a super base station 602 in theplurality of super base stations may further comprise an ultra-widebandantenna 722 for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna 723 for data.The antenna 711 of a base station 601 in the plurality of base stationsmay further comprise an ultra-wideband antenna 712 for set-up &maintenance and an LPWAN antenna 713 for data.

Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention features a system for failuredetection of a wireless base station 601 in an optimal transmissionsequence, wherein a successor of a last base station 601 in the optimaltransmission sequence is a cloud server 603. In some embodiments, thesystem may comprise a cloud server 603. The cloud server 603 maycomprise a first processor 1001 capable of executing computer-executableinstructions, a first antenna 701, a first RAM component 1002, and afirst memory component 1003. The memory 1003 may comprise instructionsfor receiving 305 the combined packet, determining 306 a number offunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence using apayload size of the combined packet, and identifying 307 zero or morenonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence usingSequential Interruption Logic based on the number of functional basestations in the optimal transmission sequence.

In some embodiments, the system may also comprise a plurality of basestations. Each base station 601 of the plurality of base stations maycomprise a second processor 1004 capable of executingcomputer-executable instructions, a second antenna 711, a second RAMcomponent 1005, and a second memory component 1006. The memory 1006 maycomprise instructions for generating 301 a packet, transmitting 302 thepacket to its successor in the optimal transmission sequence, combining303 the received packet with its own generated packet, and transmitting304 the combined packet to its own successor in the optimal transmissionsequence if the packet from a predecessor in the optimal transmissionsequence has been received or when a time to receive the packet from thepredecessor has lapsed. The instructions may also comprise therepetition 305 of packet combination and transmission to the successorrecursively until the cloud server 603 receives the combined packet. Insome embodiments, the system may also comprise a plurality of super basestations, wherein each super base station 602 of the plurality of superbase stations may comprise a third antenna 721.

In some embodiments, a network topography of the optimal transmissionsequence generated by the cloud server 603 is a linear daisy chain. Theantenna 721 of a super base station 602 in the plurality of super basestations may comprise an ultra-wideband antenna 722 for set-up &maintenance and an LPWAN antenna 723 for data. The antenna 711 of a basestation 601 in the plurality of base stations may further comprise anultra-wideband antenna 712 for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna713 for data.

The preceding description sets forth numerous specific details (e.g.,specific configurations, parameters, examples, etc.) of the disclosedembodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It should be recognized, however, that such description is notintended as a limitation on the scope of the disclosed embodiments, butis intended to elaborate upon the description of these embodiments. Itwill be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art that thepresent invention can be practiced without every specific detaildescribed infra. Moreover, well-known methods, procedures, components,and circuits have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the presentinvention.

It is fully contemplated that the features, components, and/or stepsdescribed with respect to one embodiment may be combined with thefeatures, components, and/or steps described with respect to otherembodiments of the present disclosure. To avoid needless descriptiverepetition, one or more components or actions described in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment can be used or omitted as applicable fromother embodiments. For the sake of brevity, the numerous iterations ofthese combinations were not described separately. The same referencenumbers may have been used to refer to the same or similar elements indifferent drawings. Alternately, different reference numbers may be usedto refer to the same or similar elements in the drawings of differentembodiments. Any distinction of an element's reference number in oneembodiment from another is not limiting in any way, does not suggestthat elements of one embodiment could not be combined with orsubstituted for elements in another embodiment, and (most importantly)is specifically intended only to facilitate the matching of elements inthe disclosure to their corresponding claim recitations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method (100) for optimization and failuredetection of a network of base stations, the method comprising: A.measuring (101), by each base station (601) of a plurality of basestations, an received signal strength indicator (RSSI); B. determining(102), by the cloud server (603), based on the RSSIs an optimaltransmission sequence of base stations from a most distant base station(601) to a super base station (602); C. designating (103), by the superbase station (602), a predecessor and a successor for each base station(601) in the optimal transmission sequence; D. generating (104), by eachbase station (601) of the optimal transmission sequence, a packet; E.transmitting (105), by the most distant base station (601) of theoptimal transmission sequence, its generated packet to its successor; F.transmitting (106), by the successor if a packet from its predecessorhas been received or when a time to receive the packet from itspredecessor has lapsed, a combined packet comprising its own generatedpacket and the packet received from its predecessor; G. repeating (107)step F recursively until the super base station (602) receives thecombined packet; H. receiving (108), by the cloud server (603), thecombined packet transmitted by the super base station (602); I.identifying (109), by the cloud server (603), any nonfunctional superbase station (602) and any nonfunctional base stations in the optimaltransmission sequence using Sequential Interruption Logic based on apayload size of the packet; and J. repeating (110) steps A-I until allpackets have been received by the cloud server (603).
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a network topography of the optimal transmissionsequence is a linear daisy chain.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein atransmission source of the packet is unidentified in order to conservepower.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein an antenna (721) of the superbase station (602) comprises an ultra-wideband antenna (722) for set-up& maintenance and a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) antenna (723)for data.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the antenna (711) of thebase station (601) further comprises an ultra-wideband antenna (712) forset-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna (713) for data.
 6. The methodof claim 5 further comprising transmitting, by each base station (601)of the plurality of base stations, a serial number to the cloud server(603) only when initializing.
 7. A method (300) for failure detection ofa wireless base station (601) in an optimal transmission sequence,wherein a successor of a last base station (601) in the optimaltransmission sequence is a cloud server (603), the method comprising: A.generating (301), by each base station (601) of an optimal transmissionsequence, a packet; B. transmitting (302), by the most distant basestation (601), the packet to its successor in the optimal transmissionsequence; C. combining (303), by the successor, the received packet withits own generated packet; D. transmitting (304), by the successor, thecombined packet to its own successor in the optimal transmissionsequence if the packet from a predecessor in the optimal transmissionsequence has been received or when a time to receive the packet from thepredecessor has lapsed; E. repeating (305) steps C-D recursively untilthe cloud server (603) receives the combined packet; F. determining(306), by the cloud server (603), a number of functional base stationsin the optimal transmission sequence using a payload size of thecombined packet; and G. identifying (307), by the cloud server (603),zero or more nonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmissionsequence using Sequential Interruption Logic based on the number offunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein a network topography of the optimaltransmission sequence is a linear daisy chain.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein an antenna (721) of the super base station (602) comprises anultra-wideband antenna (722) for set-up & maintenance and an LPWANantenna (723) for data.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna(711) of the base station (601) further comprises an ultra-widebandantenna (712) for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna (713) fordata.
 11. A system for optimization and failure detection of a networkof base stations, the system comprising: A. a cloud server (603),comprising: i. a first processor (1001) capable of executingcomputer-executable instructions, ii. a first antenna (701), iii. afirst randomly-accessed memory RAM component (1002), and iv. a firstmemory component (1003), wherein the memory comprises instructions for:a. determining (102) based on the RSSIs an optimal transmission sequenceof base stations from a most distant base station (601) to a super basestation (602), wherein a network topology of the optimal transmissionsequence is a linear daisy chain, b. receiving (108) the combined packettransmitted by the super base station (602), c. identifying (109) anynonfunctional super base station (602) and any nonfunctional basestations in the optimal transmission sequence using SequentialInterruption Logic based on a payload size of the packet, and d.receiving (110) a packet; B. a plurality of base stations, wherein eachbase station (601) of the plurality of base stations comprises: i. asecond processor (1004) capable of executing computer-executableinstructions, ii. a second antenna (711), iii. a second RAM component(1005), and iv. a second memory component (1006), wherein the memorycomprises instructions for: a. measuring (101) an RSSI, b. generating(104) a packet, c. transmitting (105) its generated packet to itssuccessor, and d. transmitting (106), if a packet from its predecessorhas been received or when a time to receive the packet from itspredecessor has lapsed, a combined packet comprising its own generatedpacket and the packet received from its predecessor, e. repeating (107)step d recursively until the super base station (602) receives thecombined packet; and C. a plurality of super base stations, wherein eachsuper base station (602) of the plurality of super base stationscomprises: i. a third processor (1007) capable of executingcomputer-executable instructions, ii. a third antenna (721), iii. athird RAM component (1008), and iv. a third memory component (1009),wherein the memory comprises instructions for: a. designating (103) apredecessor and a successor for each base station (601) in the optimaltransmission sequence, b. receiving (107) the combined packet, and c.transmitting (108) the combined packet to the cloud server (603). 12.The system of claim 11, wherein a network topography of the optimaltransmission sequence is a linear daisy chain.
 13. The system of claim12, wherein a transmission source of the packet is unidentified in orderto conserve power.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the antenna (721)of the super base station (602) comprises an ultra-wideband antenna(722) for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna (723) for data. 15.The system of claim 14, wherein the antenna (711) of the base station(601) further comprises an ultra-wideband antenna (712) for set-up &maintenance and an LPWAN antenna (713) for data.
 16. The system of claim15 further comprising transmitting, by each base station (601) of theplurality of base stations, a serial number to the cloud server (603)only when initializing.
 17. A system for failure detection of a wirelessbase station (601) in an optimal transmission sequence, wherein asuccessor of a last base station (601) in the optimal transmissionsequence is a cloud server (603), the system comprising: A. the cloudserver (603), comprising: i. a first processor (1001) capable ofexecuting computer-executable instructions, ii. a first antenna (701),iii. a first RAM component (1002), and iv. a first memory component(1003), wherein the first memory comprises instructions for: a.receiving (305) the combined packet, b. determining (306) a number offunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequence using apayload size of the combined packet, and c. identifying (307) zero ormore nonfunctional base stations in the optimal transmission sequenceusing Sequential Interruption Logic based on the number of functionalbase stations in the optimal transmission sequence; and B. a pluralityof base stations, wherein each base station (601) of a plurality of basestations comprises: i. a second processor (1004) capable of executingcomputer-executable instructions, ii. a second antenna (711), iii. asecond RAM component (1005), and iv. a second memory component (1006),wherein the second memory comprises instructions for: a. generating(301) a packet, b. transmitting (302) the packet to its successor in theoptimal transmission sequence, c. combining (303) the received packetwith its own generated packet, d. transmitting (304) the combined packetto its own successor in the optimal transmission sequence if the packetfrom a predecessor in the optimal transmission sequence has beenreceived or when a time to receive the packet from the predecessor haslapsed, and e. repeating (305) steps c-d recursively until the cloudserver (603) receives the combined packet.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein a network topography of the optimal transmission sequence is alinear daisy chain.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the antenna(721) of the super base station (602) further comprises anultra-wideband antenna (722) for set-up & maintenance and an LPWANantenna (723) for data.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the antenna(711) of the base station (601) further comprises an ultra-widebandantenna (712) for set-up & maintenance and an LPWAN antenna (713) fordata.